Parent Information

The mission of the Office of Student Responsibility and Community Standards at Saint Louis University is to help students aspire to become men and women for others through an educationally focused disciplinary process that assists students in improving their decision-making skills. Consistent with the philosophy of a Jesuit education and the mission of Saint Louis University, the Office of Student Responsibility and Community Standards is committed to developing and nurturing a University community where responsibility is embraced and one's ideals are shaped by individual growth and development.

Below are some frequently asked questions and answers for parents concerning the Office of Student Responsibility and Community Standards. You may also contact the office directly at 314-977-7326 or conduct@slu.edu for additional questions.

How are students notified of policies on campus? The University Policies, University's Community Standards and Residence Hall Policies are online in the Student Handbook. It is the students' responsibility to review and understand the policies and expectations of student behavior.

How does the conduct process operate?If a student is documented for being involved in a potential policy violation, they will receive an email to attend an individual hearing from a representative of the Office of Student Responsibility and Community Standards or from Housing and Residence Life. During the individual hearing the student will have the opportunity to discuss the incident with the University Hearing Officer. Failure to attend will result in the case being decided in your absence as well as a Failure to Comply violation. Should the student accept responsibility for the charges, they will receive sanctions designed to educate them about how their actions impact themselves and others. If a student does not agree with the violation(s) or sanctions, they have three days to appeal. The appeal will be sent to the Student Appeal Board (SAB). The student appeal board is made up of undergraduate students. They will have the final say, and their determination is final.

Will I be notified if my child has to attend an individual hearing?Due to the Family Educational Rights to Privacy Act, parents are not notified if their child has to attend an individual hearing. If a parent or guardian were to call the office, University personnel will also not be able to share any information. We can only share information if your child gives you permission to speak on their behalf. They can do this by accessing their SLU account. They will need to go to banner, then mySLU share, and check the conduct box. The other circumstance that parents are notified is if your child receives an underage drinking violation or a drug violation. If this happens, a parent letter will be sent home after they completed the hearing process.

Are conduct hearings similar to court hearings?Saint Louis University's conduct process is set apart from any civil or criminal legal process. Our objective is to teach our students to accept responsibility for their actions, to assist students in realizing the impact of their decisions and to foster positive community values. Students must represent themselves in our conduct process for any of these goals to be attained. Therefore, attorneys are not permitted to be part of conduct hearings, and decisions about responsibility are made with "more likely than not" standard.

What kind of consequences can result from my student's misconduct?Sanctions are assigned based on the violation and the frequency of the violation which include: disciplinary warning, university censure, disciplinary probation, housing probation (restrictions on the student's ability to live in apartment style housing), attendance at an alcohol education program, attendance at a Choices class given through Housing, Restorative Justice, community service, counseling referrals, loss of privileges, fines or restitution, as well as research and/or reflection papers. For the more severe policy violations such as sexual assault or repeated violations (numerous alcohol or drug violations) students can face suspension or expulsion.

Will my student's conduct impact him or her in the future?There are numerous employers, graduate and professional schools who require a student to release to them their conduct history before being considered for hire or admittance. Government agencies such as the FBI and all branches of the military perform conduct checks on applicants. Conduct checks also are conducted on any student wishing to participate in study abroad programs or gain admission to licensing agencies such as the Missouri State Bar Association. There are several on campus leadership programs that also perform conduct checks on student applicants. A student's conduct record is cumulative for the duration of their time as a student at SLU. A student's conduct record will remain on file for seven years after their last semester attended.

What do I do if my child has issues with their roommate?We encourage your child to try and talk to their roommate. If conflict cannot be resolved on their own, they should contact their RA.